Google Translate has many useful features beyond text-to-text translation, one of which is voice-to-text translation. This handy tool can translate and transcribe audio files or live speech in the Google Translate app in seconds offline and online. Voice-to-text translation is available on the desktop and mobile versions of Google Translate. You can use the Android or iOS Google Translate app to access this feature, although thanks to their Tensor chips, only Pixel devices like the Google Pixel 8 Pro have the real-time translation tool, Live Translate.
Depending on whether you use the desktop or mobile version of Google Translate, you’ll access slightly different voice-to-text translation features. The mobile app can format transcribed audio with punctuation and capital letters, whereas the web app cannot do either.
Voice-to-text translation cannot produce live captions in real time. This feature is called Live Translate on Pixel phones with Tensor chips and Galaxy S24 phones. Live Translate can also automatically translate text that appears on the screen.
This section includes images showing voice-to-text translation on a Pixel phone with the Google Translate app for Android. However, the method is the same for Android or iOS devices.
Follow these steps to translate and transcribe single words or short sentences. Skip to the next section to transcribe longer audio (for example, speeches).
Google Translate automatically stops and transcribes your audio when it detects a break or when you tap the stop button. You can listen to the translated text by tapping the speaker icon underneath.
For longer audio, like speeches or news reports, tell Google Translate to stop recording only when prompted. This means you can put your phone down and leave it while it translates and transcribes the audio.
Google Translate adds punctuation and capitalizes letters at the beginning of sentences. It also transcribes text in chunks during recording, not after you stop recording, so you can check the translation as the app records.
The Google Translate app has a helpful interface for translating conversations. This feature makes it easy to converse in two languages without repeating the steps for translating voice to text.
You can now tap the middle microphone button to automatically switch between speakers or tap the microphone buttons under each language to switch between speakers.
The Google Translate web app doesn’t have as much functionality for voice-to-text translation as the Android or iOS app, so use the mobile apps. However, you can still use it to transcribe audio and listen to the transcribed text.
The Google Translate web app continues transcribing audio until you press stop. It can translate up to 5,000 characters at a time and doesn’t fill in breaks with punctuation.
Whether you’re listening to a speech, having a conversation, or don’t want to type, Google Translate’s voice-to-text tools can help. Improve your language skills with one of the best educational Android apps and minimize your reliance on Google Translate.
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